Essential element for
life, water drew native Indians and later Anglo settlers to Calera. Phantom Lake
was the source of life at Calera for hundreds of years. Native Indians
grew corn and pumpkins. Primitive tools and weapons have been found through out
the area of Calera, Toyahvale, Brogado and Balmorhea.

Anglo settlers grew
mostly Alfalfa and Cotton. Phantom Lake stopped flowing in 1983. The
Paul Ward family was the last to farm around Calera, growing mostly Alfalfa. In
August of 2004 heavy rains in the Davis Mountains started Phantom Lake flowing
again, for a short time. Over the years amateur spelunkers have lost their lives
exploring the cave of Phantom Lake.

The population left Calera
long before the water stopped flowing. During the early years farming was labor intensive . Many workers were required,
once machinery became more prevalent, workers were displaced. One tractor could do the work of many men.

With the water gone the
once 2000 acres of cultivated land returned to its natural state. Mesquite
and catclaw has replaced cotton and alfalfa.

Phantom Lake, bars were meant to keep explorers out, several lost
their lives.

Water from Phantom Lake, after heavy rains in
2004, house in background belonged to Joe Kingston